The Application with Allison Turcio

Your website isn’t just a digital brochure. It’s your most powerful marketing asset. In this episode, Brittney Miller (Director of Communications and Marketing) and Britt Heppler (Digital Media Specialist) from Angelo State University join Allison to share how they turned underperforming academic program pages into high-converting recruitment tools. They break down the strategy, collaboration, and SEO tactics that led to a 370% increase in RFI submissions. We also explore how they used data, internal buy-in, and smart design to create a better experience for both students and parents. 

Join us as we discuss:

• [1:53] Why program pages are more than just content
• [8:51] How to gain buy-in and merge faculty insight with SEO strategy
• [14:47] What metrics to track for maximum success

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• BrightEdge
• ChatGPT
• EduWeb Summit

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: 

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Allison dives into a powerful session recap from the Engage Summit, spotlighting a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Matthew Winn and JC Bonilla. The episode, titled “Do We Have an AI Problem or a Culture Problem in Enrollment?”, unpacks the real obstacles preventing effective AI integration on campuses—and it’s not what most assume. Instead of a tech challenge, Winn and Bonilla argue, higher ed institutions are facing a culture challenge that requires a deep mindset shift. If you're exploring how to use AI in higher education to drive better outcomes, this is a must-listen.

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Coming to you live from Engage Summit 2025, Allison distills the must-know takeaways from Kosmas Karadimitriou’s opening keynote on the evolving role of AI in higher education. From redefining AI as a teammate to using it to enhance yield, student support, and team collaboration, this episode is packed with actionable insights for enrollment leaders and marketers looking to stay ahead of the AI curve.

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Parents aren’t just supporting players in the college search — they're often leading the charge, especially when it comes to finances. In this episode, Will Geiger, Co-founder and CEO of Scholarships360, joins Allison to talk about why parent engagement is no longer optional and how institutions can better meet parents where they are. From practical communication strategies to demystifying financial aid, Will shares real-world insights on what parents actually care about, what they’ll act on, and how colleges can build trust early.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:03] The real extent of parents’ influence on college decisions from day one
• [12:18] Lower-lift ways to start engaging parents in the search process
• [18:09] The potential impact of parental influence on future student recruitment

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• allisonturcio.com

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: Will Geiger, Co-founder, Scholarships360

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmgeiger/

Guest Bio: Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut.Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Melt season is fueled by mission, but often fueled by too much hustle. In this final installment of The Melt Season Playbook, Allison tackles a common challenge: how to support every student without running your team into the ground. The answer? Using AI to scale what’s already working.

From turning counselor notes into personalized follow-ups, to helping your team embrace low-lift AI strategies, this episode is a toolkit for doing more good without burning out.

Key “How Tos” You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Turn counselor notes into actionable, personalized messages in minutes
• Use AI to shape content strategy around student ambassador stories
• Help your team adopt AI with low-pressure prompts and shared success
• Prioritize human connection by letting AI do the organizing and summarizing
• Build an internal culture of “working smarter” during high-stress seasons

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a university blog stops talking about itself and starts answering the real questions students are asking? In this episode, Allison sits down with Mary Flagg Lewis and Samantha McGill from the University of Pittsburgh to explore how Pitt’s blog evolved from a simple FAQ hub into a powerful, student-centered content strategy. You’ll hear how they use data, AI, and student personas to craft effective posts and why their most popular blog entry wasn’t what they expected.

Join us as we discuss:

• [3:43] How to balance helpful content with subtle brand messaging
• [16:36] How to use AI for messaging and tone
• [20:13] Why it’s important to track every interaction, every time

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Names: 
Mary Flagg Lewis, Office of Admissions & Financial Aid Digital Marketing Manager, University of Pittsburgh
Samantha McGill, Office of Admissions & Financial Aid Marketing Data Analyst, University of Pittsburgh

Guest Socials: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-flagg-lewis-6a0b8930/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthamcgill/

Guest Bios: 
Mary Flagg Lewis, University of Pittsburgh, Office of Admissions & Financial Aid Digital Marketing Manager
As the Digital Marketing Manager for the Office of Admissions & Financial Aid at the University of Pittsburgh, Mary creates and launches marketing campaigns to support undergraduate recruitment efforts. In her time with the university, she has crafted a structure in which data supports campaign decisions and leads content direction across multiple platforms including email and web.

Samantha McGill, University of Pittsburgh, Office of Admissions & Financial Aid Marketing Data Analyst. At the University of Pittsburgh, Samantha has created analytical reporting dashboards and campaign review templates that allow for campaign execution improvements to the undergraduate recruitment process. within the time of utilizing the new reporting structures, the Marketing Communications team has been able to implement campaign adjustments with improved results and cultivate a better understanding of what attracts the targeted audiences to the University and its communications.

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Melt Season Playbook series, Allison explores how AI can help enrollment marketers communicate with more empathy, creativity, and strategic intent during melt season. From writing warmer nudges to supporting nervous parents, this episode is packed with practical ways to improve your student and family outreach—without losing your human touch.

Whether you're staring at a blank screen or editing your fifth orientation reminder, these prompts and strategies will help you engage smarter.

Key “How Tos” You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Use AI to brainstorm student-centered messaging ideas quickly
• Pressure-test texts and emails for warmth, urgency, and clarity
• Personalize messages for different student segments (like first-gen commuters or pre-med prospects)
• Support parents by anticipating their concerns—and creating helpful content without extra workload
• Revise checklist-style comms into more welcoming, anxiety-reducing experiences

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do you triple your lead generation while cutting costs in half? In this episode, Jeff Holeman from the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business reveals how his team transformed their paid lead generation strategy — leading to a 300% increase in leads and a 50% drop in costs. Jeff also shares insights on balancing automation with human oversight and building an effective lead engagement scoring model to help admissions teams focus on the best candidates.

Discover how leveraging first-party data, AI-driven ad platforms, and behavior-based targeting helped them move beyond outdated demographic models to find the right prospects faster.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [3:51] The transition from lookalike audiences to behavior-based targeting
• [11:22] Why you still need humans to fact-check your AI tools’ outputs
• [16:58] How to implement lead scoring to help admissions focus on the best candidates

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• Google  Demand Generation
• Google Performance Max
•  Salesforce 
• Slate

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: Jeff Holeman, CMO/Marketing and Brand Director, University of Florida - Warrington College of Business

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsholeman/

Guest Bio: Jeff Holeman leads marketing at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business, where his focus is strengthening the brand among the college’s 8,600 students and 95,000 alumni, while also building an enrollment pipeline for the college’s portfolio of academic programs. Jeff has more than 25 years of experience and previously led marketing, communications or enrollment at the University of California, Berkeley, Arizona State University, Keene State College, and the University of Rochester, as well as several healthcare systems serving Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, Wyoming, and Nebraska. 

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to the first installment of The Melt Season Playbook — a 3-part, quick-hit series designed for enrollment marketers navigating the tricky post-deposit stretch. Each episode is under 10 minutes and packed with actionable insights you can try today.

In this kickoff episode, Allison breaks down how to use AI to find the students most at risk of melting—and how to spot the signals hiding in plain sight. From tapping into behavioral patterns in your CRM to listening in on what parents are posting online, this episode is your cheat code to early intervention.

This isn’t about more guesswork or more stress—it’s about using AI as your behind-the-scenes partner to see what you might be missing and make smarter, faster decisions.

Key “How Tos” You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Use ChatGPT to analyze melt risk factors from your CRM data
• Surface parent concerns using AI’s live research tools
• Pressure-test your onboarding plan from a student’s POV
• Map the emotional journey between deposit and move-in
• Feed your real-world knowledge into AI for better insights

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Traditional lead generation in higher education isn't working. Universities pour time and money into RFI (Request for Information) forms, yet most enrolled students never even fill one out. So why are we still treating prospective students like sales leads instead of informed decision-makers?

In this episode, Allison is joined by Robert Kadar, a higher ed marketing expert with over 15 years of experience in enrollment and media strategy. Together, they break down why lead generation tactics fall short, what students actually do when researching colleges, and how universities can shift their marketing focus for better results.

Join us as we discuss: 

• [2:35] How Robert discovered that 90% of students never submit an RFI form
• [9:01] Optimizing for applications and how universities can drive better ones
• [15:46] How generative AI can help admissions offices fill the gaps

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

• eduWeb Summit
• Halda
• CUNY Youtube channel

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for “The Application with Allison Turcio” in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: Robert Kadar, Senior Director of Marketing, Graduate Schools Yeshiva University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertkadar/

Guest Bio: More than fifteen years of experience in marketing and communications, fundraising, enrollment, media relations and management for higher education and diverse advertising clients. Integrating strategic thinking and planning with a scientific approach, and nuts-and-bolts expertise to enhance brands, generate revenue growth, and optimize return on investment. I have managed small and large teams and budgets in highly complex organizations, including one of the largest universities in the United States.

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Connect With Our Host:
Allison Turcio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/
https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.